SAN ANTONIO -- Manu Ginobili is averaging a respectable 11.5 points, 5.4 assists and 4.5 rebounds during this postseason, but the San Antonio Spurs know there is another level to his game and they are eager to see it in the NBA Finals.

Ginobili and the Spurs are gearing up for the franchise's fifth appearance in the NBA Finals, where they will meet the defending champion Miami Heat starting Thursday in Miami.

"I still feel like Manu is saving his best for last," Tony Parker said. "I can feel a big final for him. That would be nice; we are definitely going to need it."

Tim Duncan agreed: "I told him he's saving himself."

Truthfully, Ginobili has never saved himself on the court since his earliest days playing basketball in Bahia Blanca, Argentina.

"He's just hell-bent for leather, absolutely all-out," coach Gregg Popovich said. "He plays with a ferocity at both ends of the court that's very unique. Coaches love that stuff."

At age 35, Ginobili no longer has the long, flowing hair that whipped violently each time he tumbled to the court -- opponents would say flopped -- but the fierce drives are still there in his 11th season.

"He's one of those guys, who, at age 50, won't be able to walk," former NBA coach Nate McMillan has said.

Ginobili already has difficulty staying upright, missing 22 games this season after missing 32 in the lockout-shortened 2012 season. After missing much of the final month of the regular season with a strained hamstring, Ginobili said he feels as healthy as he did entering training camp.

"It's great to have had this opportunity to keep playing," Ginobili said. "I feel better. If we had lost in the first round, I wasn't even back. After three weeks sitting, then four games, five games and the season's over, you go back home with a really bad feeling about the season. But since the way things have turned out, to tell you the truth, I even forgot what happened during the season. I'm feeling good now. We're in the Finals, so who cares? No one is going to remember I missed 20 games during the regular season."

While Parker and Duncan receive a lion's share of credit for the team's successful 16-year run, they know they need a healthy Ginobili to thrive.

"Manu is one of the ultimate competitors in our league, and has been for a long time," Popovich said. "He has been a big factor in us winning games [and] winning championships. He's very important to what we do."

It's not just his willingness to take a charge or fearlessness in taking a last-second shot that makes Ginobili critical to the team. He is a vocal leader and the team's resident cut-up, chastising the younger players when he isn't playfully bullying them.

Ginobli said he has no plans to retire, but he is cherishing this trip to the Finals more than his three previous appearances.

"I completely love what I do, and I think people can tell," Ginobili said. "Even though I can start to see the end of the road, it's hard to really imagine being a retired player because I still really love what I do. I enjoy the locker room before a game. I even enjoy it after a loss; just the camaraderie, the stay together, going to dinner to talk about what we've done wrong.

"I feel like you've got somebody that supports you and you support somebody else. Trying to get over humps all together is great. It's a great feeling that you are probably never going to have ever again once you retire.

"Sometimes you are tired, you are older; it's harder to come back from injures, but at the same time, you enjoy what you do."

I guess we are all hoping for Manu to improve from what he has already done these playoffs so far.
But I still feel that our Finals MVP will be Tony. This will be a team effort, but the team will go as far as Tony can get us, not only for his game, but because he is the worst matchup for Miami to contain (with Duncan a close second).

I agree our finals MVP will be Tonay and Duncan a close second, however if manu plays the way we all know he can play, we will destroy Miami. they dont call them the big three for the wrong reasons, when wade plays the way he plays Miami killed Indiana, I think he is i going to bring it on the first game , leave everything on the floor and then tony will take over for the rest of the series, mark my words, we will win the first game with Manu BEING Manu!

I've always said Manu has to play better and hasn't been playing particularly well. It seems that his own teammates think the same thing.
"Saving his best for last"? That implies that he hasn't been playing his best, which is what I've been saying. Manu better have a "best", because they are going to need all of it.

As most people in this forum have been saying during these playoffs. But many in here (you don't seem to be included in that group) also address that he hasn't been as bad as you made it look like in other posts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uwe Blab

and hasn't been playing particularly well.

You saying that Manu "hasn't been playing particularly well" is a really mild way to put it. Feel free to re-read the tone of your posts about Manu if you disagree. And while you are at it, feel free to reply my post about Manu's stats these playoffs and in crunch time in the other thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uwe Blab

"Saving his best for last"? That implies that he hasn't been playing his best, which is what I've been saying. Manu better have a "best", because they are going to need all of it.

I agree that we need our whole team playing at their best to be able to beat this Miami team. I believe we can do it and we have everything to get that fifth ring. But it will require a team effort from everyone and being led by Tony and Timmy (which I believe are the positions where the Spurs can make the most damage).

As most people in this forum have been saying during these playoffs. But many in here (you don't seem to be included in that group) also address that he hasn't been as bad as you made it look like in other posts.

You saying that Manu "hasn't been playing particularly well" is a really mild way to put it. Feel free to re-read the tone of your posts about Manu if you disagree. And while you are at it, feel free to reply my post about Manu's stats these playoffs and in crunch time in the other thread.

I agree that we need our whole team playing at their best to be able to beat this Miami team. I believe we can do it and we have everything to get that fifth ring. But it will require a team effort from everyone and being led by Tony and Timmy (which I believe are the positions where the Spurs can make the most damage).

I just looked at your response in the other thread. So your point is, that he contributes with a steal or a block, or with an assist at the end of the game. Ok, fine. My point was, he kind of cancels himself out with bad play earlier in the game. Ok, end of game is better,because that is "clutch". But it's his bad play (and I agree, others as well, but none so momentum changing as his), that make it necessary for him to be "clutch" at the end. It's a "Manu Conundrum". Of course, I'm happy he does the things at the end to help the team win, but it's a trend that needs to change if they want to beat the Heat.

My other questions were the numbers you used to begin with for your comparisons. Why only 7 games? They've played 14 in the playoffs. How in the world do the numbers only have 22 minutes for TD in crunch time? What players were on the court at the time? Do these include the various overtimes? I just think the sample size and numbers being used are going to give you skewed results. Because even the most novice of basketball fans know that Manu wasn't the most clutch player in the last minutes of the games.